Pre-gaming your vote, catch up on the issues

It's (finally) Election Day, Michigan! It's time to get out and vote for the next president, either Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton, as well as a whole slew of other candidates that will represent you on some scale. And don't forget the ballot initiatives! Polls open in Michigan at 7 a.m. and will close at 8 p.m. Stay tuned to this post for Election Day updates in Michigan. It may be quiet most of the day, but news will start rolling in after polls close.

If you see any problems while voting, please text the word ELECTIONLAND to 69866 and let us know. Electionland is a ProPublica-led coalition designed to crowdsource voting problems nationwide in real-time. The Free Press will have reporters to call or visit voting precincts where major problems crop up. The US Justice Department is also sending agents to Detroit, Dearborn Heights and Hamtramck to "protect the rights of all citizens to access the ballot on Election Day."

9:40 a.m.: 'Chaos' and 'total mess' near Detroit's west side

Lifelong Detroiter Lynnette Kelsey said in the dozens of years that she's voted, she's never encountered such a chaotic scene at her polling location. Kelsey said she woke up early to cast her ballot and arrived at Mackenzie Elementary-Middle School near Detroit's west side at 7:15 a.m. Kelsey, 57, said she didn't leave until more than an hour later. "It was a total mess there," Kelsey said. "It was just very unorganized and everyone was just squashed into the gym. If that happened at 7 a.m. this morning, I can only imagine by noon how that would be. It was just a very bad experience for me. I can see people leaving out and not wanting to deal with it." – Katrease Stafford, Staff Writer

by Detroit Free Press11/8/2016 6:56:45 PM

10:10 a.m. - Two hour delay in Detroit precinct

In Precinct 134 in Detroit’s West Village area, the machine that counts the ballots was not working from the very beginning of the morning, causing confusion and anger among voters. Workers at the precinct told voters they could either leave their ballot in a secure box below the machine for it to be counted later or wait for a technician to arrive to fix the machine. About 45 people, including Marilyn King, 62, of Detroit, decided to wait. Latricia Pritchett, 45, of Detroit, said experiences like this lead to lower voter turnout. “Some people don’t have transportation and do everything that they can to get here …and the process is already lengthy, so when you have to sit here and wait another hour just to insert your ballot it’s just ridiculous.” A technician arrived at 8:56 a.m. and workers began processing ballots about 10 minutes later. — Brent Snavely, Staff Writer

by Detroit Free Press11/8/2016 6:57:05 PM

11:01 a.m.: Gov. Snyder casts his ballot

Michigan Republican Gov. Rick Snyder cast his ballot shortly after 10:30 am Tuesday but declined to tell reporters who he supported on the ballot. "I'm proud to be governor of Michigan and I'm glad to see people turning out," Snyder said after filling out his ballot at Community High School in Ann Arbor. The governor whose name was floated early on as a potential GOP candidate for President himself dismissed that talk Tuesday as speculation. He added that he was focused on this election on seeing the GOP keep its majority in the state legislature. -- Matthew Dolan, Staff writer

Gov. Rick Snyder stands in line at Community High School in Ann Arbor on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2016 waiting to turn in his ballot for the 2016 election. (Photo: Matthew Dolan)

by Detroit Free Press11/8/2016 6:57:24 PM

11:37 a.m.: Fight breaks out in Ypsilanti Township

What started as a verbal altercation between two women-- one a Hillary Clinton supporter and the other a Donald Trump supporter-- turned physical at a polling location in Ypsilanti Township this morning after a man pushed one of the women down on the ground. The two female voters had just voted and were outside the polling location when they got into a verbal altercation about the candidates who they voted for. "A male subject interjected himself into the argument, ended up pushing down one of the females and then more people started getting involved in this back and forth verbal altercation," Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office spokesman Derrick Jackson said, adding that no one was arrested and everyone was released at the scene. – Katrease Stafford, Staff Writer

12:11 p.m.: Broken counting machine in Detroit

Voters at Precinct 18 on the Detroit's east side have reported that the machine used to count the ballots is broken. "I called the commission and they don't seem like they're even concerned," said voter Patricia Perry, who got to the precinct around 8:30 a.m."You don't know if your ballot is spoiled or what because the machine isn't working." Perry said the poll workers continued to have voters "stuff their ballots" into the machine, despite it being broken. "It was so full that one of the workers had to come in there with her key, open the machine, take the ballots out and put them down in the bottom of the box. Then they let the people keep stuffing them in there." Perry said the polling location was crowded with voters, who said they had tried to call the election department several times. – Katrease Stafford, Staff Writer

by Detroit Free Press11/8/2016 6:57:56 PM

1:20 p.m.: Hottest stories on Freep.com right now

The hottest election stories on the site right now show that voters are thinking ahead to if the presidential candidate they support doesn't win, and how they should vote locally.

2:47 p.m.: Why you aren't seeing election results now

Election Day is usually a pretty slow day when it comes to news. How can that be with so much riding on this election? Not much happens outside of voting during the day and polls close at 8 p.m. in Michigan. That's when everything kicks into high gear.

The Free Press is stationed at 80 voting precincts that represent a mathematical model of voting results in Michigan. The moment the polls close an elections official will first verify that they've accounted for every ballot they've handed out, they'll then run a machine called the Opti-Scan which counts the votes, according to Freep elections expert Tim Kiska. The result will be a paper tape tabulation of actual results. The Free Press representative on site will call that result into the news room immediately where we'll add up the outcomes of all 80 precincts.

We are aiming to make as informed a projection as possible for the state of Michigan based upon actual results, not unreliable exit polling. Stay tuned to this page right here for results.

by Detroit Free Press11/8/2016 8:15:48 PM

2:51 p.m.: Hours of voting delays at an Islamic school

At a voting precinct in an Islamic school in Canton, Crescent Academy, voting machines were down for a few hours this morning, said Ken Coleman, a spokesman for Anil Kumar, a Democrat running for U.S. House Rep. "To have people eager and ready to vote but can't because of these type of problems is simply outrageous," Coleman said. The problem appears to have been corrected and the machines are now working. -- Niraj Warikoo, Staff writer

by Detroit Free Press11/8/2016 9:10:30 PM

3:35 p.m.: Big turnout in Sterling Heights could be good for Trump

At the Macedonian Cultural Center on Ryan Road – the home of Sterling Heights Precinct 43 – precinct head Celeste Grabowski said voters were lined up when it opened at 7 a.m. and more than 400 voters came through in the first two hours, more than she has seen in recent years. That could be good news for Trump, who held a big rally in Sterling Heights on Sunday and is counting on Macomb County voters to come out big for him. Romney easily won the precinct four years ago. “This is the busiest I’ve ever seen it,” said Grabowski.

Meanwhile, Christina Guenthner sat behind polling officials, working as a volunteer poll observer for the Michigan Republican Party. Armed with a list of names, she was watching to challenge anyone who might show up whose name didn’t match those of people registered in the precinct – but even more so, her job was to report back to the party who had showed up, giving them a better idea of how the GOP was doing at the precinct. -- Todd Spangler, Staff writer

by Detroit Free Press11/8/2016 9:10:53 PM

4:54 p.m. Last voter in line will be able to vote

If you're in a line when polls close at 8 p.m. you will still be able to vote, Detroit Free Press elections expert Tim Kiska says. The voting precinct officials are instructed to mark the last person in line as polls close to make sure everyone gets the opportunity to vote. The poll will stay open until that last person leaves. If you are in line, rest assured you are safe. If you show up at 8 p.m., or shortly after, find a precinct official and ask if they've marked the final voter at that point. You might be it. If you are denied the right to vote and you are in line before 8 p.m., text the word ELECTIONLAND to 69866. This will alert staffers looking for voter suppression and voter fraud.

by Detroit Free Press11/8/2016 10:09:38 PM

5:38 p.m.: Detroit voter turnout down

Midday figures for just the city of Detroit show that voter turnout was down Tuesday afternoon compared to Election Day 2012. Turnout was 27% as of 3 p.m., about 140,000 votes (include absentee ballots). That is lower than the 32% turnout at the same time four years ago, said Daniel Baxter, director of the Detroit Department of Elections.

by Detroit Free Press11/8/2016 11:02:43 PM

7:08 p.m.: Possible voter intimidation in East Lansing

Election officials are unclear why a man standing outside of a polling location in East Lansing pulled two women wearing hijabs out of line but say the questionable incident may have been voter intimidation.

Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump was the projected winner in West Virginia, Kentucky and Indiana while Democrat Hillary Clinton claimed Vermont as polls began closing Tuesday across the East in the historic campaign to elect the nation's 45th president.

Polling places across most of Florida, one of the night's most crucial prizes, began closing at 7 p.m. ET. The battleground states of Georgia, New Hampshire and Virginia also were closing, along with likely Trump states of Alabama and South Carolina and Democratic Vermont.

8 p.m. Polls close in most of Michigan

8:10 p.m.: Clinton backers' cars, signs spray-painted red in Livonia

After 25 years of peaceful elections, Livonia resident Mary Ann Arsenault was dealt some menacing news this Election Day: someone spray painted her daughter's car red, along with the Hillary Clinton sign on her lawn.

And she wasn't alone.

Anti-Clinton vandals marked their territory all along her suburban street sometime overnight, spray painting four Clinton signs and three vehicles that were parked at the homes with the signs for the Democratic presidential candidate. Arsenault didn't discover the vandalism until she returned home from voting. It was still dark outside when she left – she wanted to be at the polls by 7 a.m. – and didn't see the damage until she returned home, she said.

8:12 p.m.: Patterson rocks Trump socks

L. Brooks Patterson, the Oakland County Executive running for re-election, shows off his Donald Trump socks that his grandchildren got for him when they were visiting New York City.Patterson come to the GOP Watch Party at Heroes Bar-BQ and Brew in Waterford to be with friends and supporters during the election returns.

8:18 p.m.: Marco Rubio gets a second term

8:24 p.m.: What Hillary Clinton's campaign means to women and America

Free Press Columnist Nancy Kaffer and Jim Schaefer talk the presidential election and what Hillary Clinton's campaign means to women and America. Follow the Detroit Free Press on Facebook to watch live broadcasts from around the newsroom on Election Night.

by Detroit Free Press11/9/2016 1:26:07 AM

8:26 p.m.: Early results roll in for Clinton, Trump

The very, very first results from Michigan are in. Hillary Clinton leads Donald Trump 50% to 45%, according to AP results. Keep in mind, this is less than 60,000 votes -- Michigan had a population of 9.9 million in 2014. Here's how we plan to call the race: The Free Press is stationed at 80 voting precincts that represent a mathematical model of voting results in Michigan. An elections official first verifies that they've accounted for every ballot they've handed out, they'll then run a machine called the Opti-Scan which counts the votes, according to Freep elections expert Tim Kiska. The result will be a paper tape tabulation of actual results that a team of reporters and data workers in the Free Press newsroom will use to ultimately call the winner of Michigan. Michigan has 16 electoral votes.

Stay tuned to Freep.com for live results.

by Detroit Free Press11/9/2016 1:41:34 AM

8:36 p.m. Election Night Mannequin Challenge!

Election Pizza. Mannequin Challenge. It's going to be a long night at the Free Press newsroom.

by Detroit Free Press11/9/2016 1:42:48 AM

8:44 p.m.: Clinton, Trump win states - but no battlegrounds yet

Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump was the projected winner in seven early states while Democrat Hillary Clinton claimed five and the District of Columbia as polls began closing Tuesday across the nation in the historic campaign to elect the nation's 45th president.

9:09 p.m.: In state House, too early to tell if balance shifting

Democrats were hoping to cut into a strong Republican majority in the state House in Tuesday's election and were targeting several GOP-held seats in Metro Detroit, but legislative leaders from both parties expressed confidence as they awaited returns.

Republicans going into the election held a 63-47 majority, though with vacant seats resulting from deaths or resignations of lawmakers, the current make-up of the House is 62 Republicans, 45 Democrats, and three vacancies.

9:30 p.m.: Trump takes razor-thin lead in battleground Florida

Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump was the projected winner in a dozen early states while Democrat Hillary Clinton claimed eight and the District of Columbia as polls across the nation began closing Tuesday in the historic campaign to elect the nation's 45th president.

9:50 p.m.: How we called Clinton to win Michigan

The Detroit Free Press has projected Hillary Clinton to be the winner in Michigan. We talk about how we called Clinton win it in Michigan and what that means for Donald Trump. Jim Schaefer of the Free Press talks to Editorial Director Stephen Henderson, Washington Correspondent Todd Spangler and our polling guru, Tim Kiska, who managed an 80-precinct reporting strategy that allowed us to collect enough data to project a winner.

by Detroit Free Press11/9/2016 2:52:56 AM

10:05 p.m.: Close vote count equals volatile markets

As the votes roll in across the U.S. in the presidential election, stock, currency and bond markets around the globe are trading in volatile fashion as a tight race in Florida, a key swing state, keeps investors on edge as the world awaits the winner of the 2016 U.S. presidential election.

10:30 p.m.: Trump takes Ohio, Clinton wins Virginia

Donald Trump notched a win in the key battleground state of Ohio, networks reported. The win had been predicted in recent polling, but it represents the first big swing state victory for the Republican nominee announced tonight.

Clinton picked up a win in the battleground state of Virginia, networks reported.

11:01 p.m. Wayne County roundup: Dearborn's Dabaja wins judgeship

With returns trickling in at presstime Tuesday, it was too close to call many key Wayne County races, but Dearborn City Council President Susan Dabaja appears to have won her race to become a 19th District Court judge.

Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump was the projected winner in more than a dozen early states including the crucial battleground states of Florida and Ohio while Democrat Hillary Clinton's tally included swing states Colorado and Virginia as the election of the nation's 45th president neared a frenzied conclusion.

Sterling Heights voters are saying yes in early results to a 20-year parks and recreation millage that would allow for the construction of a 120,000-square-foot community center among other improvements.

11:57 p.m.: Fraser public safety assessment ballot proposal failing

11:59 p.m.: In state House elections, GOP maintains control

Democrats, despite high expectations, failed to cut into a strong Republican majority in the state House in Tuesday's election, after targeting several GOP-held seats in Metro Detroit and around the state.

1:12 a.m.: Miller leading incumbent Marrocco in Macomb public works race

The third time may be another charm for U.S. Rep. Candice Miller.

Two other times the Harrison Township Republican has beaten a 24-year incumbent to an office she was seeking.

With 81.6% of 337 precincts in Macomb County reporting, the congresswoman was leading 24-year incumbent Public Works Commissioner Anthony Marrocco, a Democrat, after the two political powerhouses waged a bitter – and sometimes personal – election battle for the public works seat.

Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trumpstormed to crucial victories in a series of battleground states on Tuesday, widening an incredible but increasingly likely path to victory for the billionaire real-estate mogul and reality TV star.

For the first time in nearly a quarter century, Macomb County will have a new clerk/register of deeds.

Republican Karen Spranger is leading Democrat Fred Miller by 660 votes with 98.8% of the county's precincts reporting. She has 50.1% of the vote compared to Miller's 49.9%, according to unofficial election results.

1:56 a.m.: Miller declares victory over Marrocco in Macomb public works race

2:07 a.m.: Macomb County: Countywide races, commissioners and judges

Macomb County's rough and tumble politics just got a little crazier.

With nearly 99% of precincts reporting, it appears three of the five countywide offices up for grabs Tuesday will shift from Democrats to Republicans -- with victories possibly thanks to Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump winning in the home of the Reagan Democrats.

All of the countywide seats currently are held by Democrats. But that appears to have changed on Election Day.